Introducing the Beda’a Eclipse

Typically a watch brand won't stray too far from the tried and true when they release their debut watch. Most new brands play it safe. Beda'a, on the other hand, took a risk, and launched with the Eclipse. A slender and sophisticated offering that stands out not just because of its unconventional time display, but for the quality of its finishings and the attention paid to subtle design elements.

The Backstory

Made in Switzerland, but born in Qatar, Beda'a is part of the Albidaa Group, which offers luxurious products in a range of categories — Beda'a is the group’s watch offering, and is set to offer timepieces rooted in the codes of classical watchmaking, but promise contemporary design for a statement timepiece.

Intriguing Time Display

This future-thinking approach is very much in evidence on the Eclipse. The dial is dominated, not by hands, but by a celestial shield that leaves the bulk of the dial hidden behind a dial cover with a delicate frosted texture. There's a fan-shaped aperture at the 12 o'clock position that reveals the current hour, while the rest of the hour disc is hidden. Towards the outer edge of the dial, you can see the tip of the minute hand, a futuristic indicator reminiscent of an analogue gauge. There's even a seconds hand, visible for only a few seconds every minute through the hour window. While the timing application of this is limited, it nevertheless serves a useful function in letting the wearer know that their watch is running.

Not that reliability should be much of an issue. Beda'a has sensibly opted for the tried and tested Sellita SW300 calibre for this watch, an efficient, industrial automatic movement that gives up to 56 hours of autonomy, which is plenty. This calibre is visible through an open sapphire caseback, and the front crystal is also sapphire.

Minimalist Design With Fine Details

The overall design of the Eclipse is informed not only by a nostalgic understanding of the future — this watch wouldn't look too out of place in the next installment of Fallout. On top of that, it evokes mystery clocks, those ingenious timepieces that pioneered a charming spirit of illusion. Of course, those are the broad design brush strokes, but Beda'a does not disappoint on the finer details either. The case, which measures an exceptionally pleasing 37mm across by only 8.1mm tall, is complex. The lugs especially required four separate pieces to accentuate the purity of the round design. Likewise, the dial is full of depth and detail. The finish of the celestial shield and the double-layered minutes display ring, for example.

Offered on a supple ostrich leather strap, the Beda'a Eclipse is a novelty in the truest sense of the word. Priced at around 2200 CHF, the watch was initially intended as a limited production of only 150 pieces, but since its formal debut in Geneva, demand has skyrocketed, meaning that we may be seeing many more Eclipses in the future.

Specifications

Beda’a Eclipse 

Movement: Sellita SW300

Mechanism: Automatic

Power Reserve: 56 hours 

Case: 37 mm; 8.1 mm thick; Sapphire crystal and case back

Material: 904 Stainless steel

Dial:3D dial with a sweeping hour disc, floating minutes indicator, and a 10-second counter

Water Resistance: Up to 30m

Strap: Ostrich leather

Price: Around CHF2200